The average salary for a sailor in the United States is around $51,520 per year.
Avg Salary
Sailors earn an average yearly salary of $51,520.
Wages typically start from $34,560 and go up to $83,620.
17% below national average Updated in 2025
Sailor earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level sailor earnings begin at:
$40.20 per hour
$83,620 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level sailor earnings begin at:
$32.50 per hour
$67,590 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level sailor earnings begin at:
$24.77 per hour
$51,520 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level sailor earnings begin at:
$19.92 per hour
$41,430 per year
10th percentile
Starting level sailor earnings begin at:
$16.61 per hour
$34,560 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Sailor salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,140 |
| New Jersey | $71,880 |
| Oregon | $70,410 |
| Washington | $66,700 |
| Alaska | $63,130 |
| Maryland | $62,280 |
| Tennessee | $60,580 |
| Delaware | $60,040 |
| Florida | $57,930 |
| Minnesota | $56,680 |
| Indiana | $56,570 |
| Texas | $55,610 |
| California | $55,180 |
| New York | $54,210 |
| Ohio | $53,520 |
| Missouri | $51,940 |
| Michigan | $51,310 |
| South Carolina | $50,500 |
| Mississippi | $50,390 |
| Virginia | $49,120 |
| Illinois | $49,090 |
| Wisconsin | $48,880 |
| Rhode Island | $48,860 |
| Iowa | $48,100 |
| Kentucky | $47,460 |
| West Virginia | $47,370 |
| Maine | $46,800 |
| Louisiana | $46,610 |
| Connecticut | $45,280 |
| North Carolina | $44,770 |
| Massachusetts | $44,070 |
| Alabama | $43,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,810 |
| Georgia | $37,500 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $28,880 |
| Arkansas | $23,960 |
| District of Columbia | $23,920 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,020 |
How do sailor salaries compare to similar careers?
Sailors earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than traffic technicians but more than tour guides.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Traffic technician salary | $59K |
| Bus driver salary | $59K |
| Ship loader salary | $59K |
| Truck driver salary | $59K |
| Cargo and freight agent salary | $52K |
| Sailor salary | $52K |
| Travel agent salary | $50K |
| Taxi driver salary | $42K |
| Delivery service driver salary | $45K |
| Tour guide salary | $38K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)